Marta's Meanderings

Welcome to this leg of the blog tour for DROOD. Make sure you check out the links to the other blogs participating in the tour below to find out what they are all saying about DROOD.

by Dan Simmons

Synopsis from Publisher Site: “On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens--at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world--hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever. Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens's life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens's friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best. "

Audio Excerpts of the Book
Audio Excerpt #1	Audio Excerpt #2
Audio Excerpt #3	Audio Excerpt #4

Hardcover: 784 pages Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (February 9, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 0316007021 ISBN-13: 978-0316007023

The Author Reading From DROOD

Reading Part #2	Reading Part #3
Reading Part #4	Reading Part #5
Reading Part #6	Reading Part #7

Find out more about DROOD at the author’s website at: http://www.dansimmons.com/

About the Author
Dan Simmons is the award-winning author of several novels, including the New York Times bestsellers Olympos and The Terror. He lives in Colorado. For more about Dan check out his full bio here http://www.dansimmons.com/about/bio.htm .

Review

DROOD is a fun book, but it’s not for the faint at heart! At 784 pages it takes some fortitude to finish DROOD. While I really enjoyed the book, it’s not for all readers. It’s written in a style reminiscent of Dickens and so at times the prose is hard to understand. There is a lot of terminology that also might throw readers not used to literature from this “era”. That said, this book is a delight. Simmons manages to wrap a novel around the facts of Dickens’ last years. While at times it seems a bit dry as it goes off on a tangent of historical details, it does eventually benefit the story. Simmons takes us into the creepy underworld of England with Dickens and manages to thrill us as well as give us a hauntingly new visual into the Charles Dickens rarely heard of. I enjoyed this book immensely. While at times I thought it would never end…it was well worth the time and effort (the effort came from trying to lift the book:) put into reading it. Thanks to Dan Simmons for something totally new and original in the writing of this book.

The Author Discussing DROOD

This probably is NOT what people are expecting for Wordless Wednesday...but this is a picture that left me speechless...well pretty much ;)

By Robert Hellenga

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books; Reprint edition (February 9, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031611765X
ISBN-13: 978-0316117654

Summary:
"Margot Harrington's memoir about her discovery in Florence of a priceless masterwork of Renaissance erotica--and the misguided love affair it inspired--is now, 25 years later, being made into a movie. Margot, with the help of her lover, Woody, writes a script that she thinks will validate her life. Of course their script is not used, but never mind--happy endings are the best endings for
movies, as Margot eventually comes to see. At the former convent in Florence where "The Sixteen Pleasures"--now called "The Italian Lover,"--is being filmed, Margot enters into a drama she never imagined, where her ideas of home, love, art, and aging collide with the imperatives of commerce and the unknowability of other cultures and other people. "

That is the blurb from the Hachette Books, USA website. I enjoyed this book but it's definitely not one of my favorites. The descriptions of Florence were wonderful, but the story just seemed to drag a bit to me. I guess I wanted to be swept off my feet with a great romance and I don't think that is what it was intended to be. I had never read anything by this author, but the reviews I read were great! This just might be a case of reading a book at the wrong time. So....to give all of you, my wonderful readers, a chance to find out for yourself Valerie @ Hachette has been wonderful enough to offer 5 books for me to give out.

To Enter: Please make sure to leave a reply in the comment section of this post.

♦The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.
♦You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
♦The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O. Boxes.
♦Only one entry per household/IP address.
♦The contest ends at midnight on March 7, 2009.
♦Five(5) winners will be picked in a random draw and will be drawn on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

As I usually do, you get extra points for

• Following me on Twitter
• Stumble me
• Follow this blog
• Leave me a comment telling me the most romantic place you can think of! If you don't answer this question you're entry won't count.

Make sure you let me know what you think about this book.

This was a week of great blog posts and lots of books that I now want to read! I don’t think my shelves are going to hold all of them though! (insert plea for donation of lots of bookshelves)Well let’s get on to the goodies! I can't wait to share them with you!

Devourer of Books reviewed The Sonnets by Warrick Collins. In his book Collins explores what was behind Shakespeare's sonnets, by imagining what was going on in Shakespeare’s life at the time he wrote them. Devourer of books says

“This is a very quick read and truly feels as if it is a snapshot of Shakespeare’s life, it could almost be an excerpt from his lost diary, if it were only written in diary format.”

Even though she wasn’t fond of all the poetry in the book, I think this sounds like a really interesting book and I’ll be adding it to my TBR list.

Beth Fish Reads reviews More Home Cooking: A Writer Returns to the Kitchen which was written by Laurie Colwin. Beth tells us

“Colwin conveys her understanding of food and family, but throughout we are also treated to her sense of humor.”

This isn’t necessarily a cookbook as much as it is a collection of stories about families, love and their relationship to food.

OK I know you’ve all seen the commercials for this, or something very much like it. The Slanket is reviewed and modeled by Trish from Hey Lady Whatcha’ Reading"?. Beth is also offering a giveaway of a slanket, so hurry over. Don’t miss seeing the glamour shots of Trish in her slanket!

Fans of the Twilight series of books will want to check out Bookroom Reviews to find out some of the latest news about the new movie coming out later this year.

Amy at My Friend Amy wrote a really great review of the book “Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom. If you’re a fan of historical fiction this might be just the book that you’ve been looking for. Amy says..

“ this is heavy reading. Even so, it is recommended”

She also has some cautions at the end of her review that you might want to check out.

Bermuda Onion has a wonderful review of a book I just finished last night – Very Valentine by Adriana Triagini. I thought this book was wonderful! BermudaOnion says of the book…

“No one can write about families the way Trigiani can. She reveals the love, frustration and loyalty that all families share.”

Wendi of Wendi's Book Corner had too much fun this week reviewing Confetti Cakes For Kids by Elisa Strauss with Christie Matheson. Stop by and check out what they whipped up at her house.

Mark your calendars for the annual Book Giveaway Carnival. This should be a lot of fun and there will be lots of goodies to sign up for! There's still time to participate, so make sure you check it out.

Welcome to Barbara Levenson's Book Tour

About the Author

Barbara Levenson has lived in Miami for the past 32 years.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Miami Law School, Barbara has served as a prosecutor and run her own law practice where she focused on criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Barbara was elected to a judgeship in the circuit court of Miami-Dade County, where she still serves as a senior judge.
Born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Barbara was raised in Columbus, Ohio. She was the first woman elected to the Columbus Board of Education, and later served as the Board’s first female president. Barbara was also the first woman to be named the Ohio Newspaper’s “Man of the Year.”
Barbara and her husband, a retired financial consultant, bred and showed German Shepherd Dogs for 20 years and finished 11 champions in the show ring. They have two sons. Her website is BarbaraLevenson.com.

Fatal February: A Mary Magruder Katz Mystery

Summary: For half Jewish, half Southern Baptist Miami criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz, life starts to spin completely out of control when a minor fender bender turns out to be an unlikely shot from Cupid’s bow.
Carlos Martin, the other car’s driver, isn’t just a distracted driver; he’s distracting. Carlos is charming, handsome, and mysterious. Hardly before she knows what hit her, Mary breaks off her engagement, jumps into a sizzling romance with Carlos, gets fired from her former fiancé’s highbrow law firm, starts her own practice, and lands her first client, Lillian Yarmouth.
But Lillian isn’t just any client; she’s the prime suspect in what’s become the Miami society murder of the year.
While investigating Lillian’s alleged crime of passion, Mary finds that this case, like all matters of the heart, is anything but black and white. And Mary has clearly stumbled onto something that has someone seeing red.
February may be the shortest month of the year, but Mary’s got some long days (and nights) ahead. This month could be a real killer.

Fatal February Review:

When I started this book I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it. But all of a sudden it took off and I was hooked. Once the book got going there was a lot of action and a lot of romance. I really liked Mary Magruder Katz. She’s smart, sexy and fun to read. Overall this was really a fun little book. This was the first book by Barbara and I sincerely hope to read more from her in the future. Her background in law helped to make the book very interesting. On top of that she’s a fellow Buckeye!

Barbara is very graciously giving away a signed copy of her book, Fatal February, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to Barbara’s book tour page, and enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 4751, for your chance to win. Entries from Marta’s Meanderings blog site will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on Barbara’s book tour page next week.

Thank you to Mystery Book News for allowing me to participate in this book tour! Check out this schedule of stops on the FATAL FEBRUARY tour.

by Lance Waite

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Parents Publishing Group, LLC; 1 edition (June 8, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601310161
ISBN-13: 978-1601310163

This is a sweet book about a girl and her dad spending the day together at the beach. This book is the second in a series of books about fathers and daughters. They take the day off at the beach - picking up shells, playing in the sand and enjoying the boardwalk. It's refreshing to see a book about fathers and daughters just hanging out together. The illustrations are really colorful and make you feel like digging your toes in the sand. The story is rhyming so you pick up that sing song feel that will have your kids chiming in with you when you read it. All in all I think it's a delightful book that would be enjoyed over and over .

By Mardi Link

Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: University of Michigan Press/Regional (June 25, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0472033158
ISBN-13: 978-0472033157

I spotted this gem of a true-life crime novel one day while surfing on Amazon. For anyone who is a fan of true crime novels or cold case books this is a great choice.

This is an accounting of an unsolved murder that took place 40 years ago in Good Hart, Michigan. It's about the murders of a wealthy Detroit family vactioning in Good Hart in 1968. It was the American dream at the time, to escape the city and be able to spend the summer on the shore, and instead turned into a mystery. Dick and Shirley Robison and their 3 teen age boys and young daughter were found in July of 1968 murdered in their cabin. The story we're told is based on newspaper accounts, court documents and interviews with the people involved. What at first looks like your typical American family is quickly discovered to be full of even more mystery that confused authorites and made the crime impossible to solve. This writing in this book is wonderful and keeps you riveted. It's hard hitting and factual, and yet involves the reader in the last days of this families lives in a way that is anything but dry. This is a book I'd recommend to all fans of mystery and whodunits.

Thanks to the author, Mardi Link for the copy she sent me for review.

The next Book Giveaway Carnival, hosted by Tracy at Bookroom Reviews is March 2 through 8. There will be giveaways for books (they do not have to be new) and/or book related items. There will be lots of people participating and lots and lots of fun bookish giveaways. I'm excited and I can't wait to participate in this. I've got lots of giveaways lined up for that week, so make sure you stop by!

By Barbara Romo

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981601111
ISBN-13: 978-0981601113

This book has a really original plotline: an alien who is investigating alien abductions. That said, I wasn't sure how this was going to playout and if it was going to be believable. I'm not the biggest sci fi fan. Not my favorite genre. That's part of why I was drawn to this book when the author offered it to me. Expanding the horizons! Well consider them expanded! This book was fun and adventurous at the same time it was a sexy romance. First we have Hanna, who is a Ufologist. She interviews people who claim they were abducted. Gideon is half Earther and half Olam. Together they work together to save Earth from being taken over by the N'weretil and in the process discover they are Lifemates. Lots of action and adventure in between some smokin' (literally) sex scenes. I'd definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to Barbara Romo for letting me read this!

By: Carmindy

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Center Street (October 7, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599951436
ISBN-13: 978-1599951430

"In GET POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL, makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's hit program What Not to Wear shows you how to change your mindset from negative fault-finding to a positive beauty philosphy. You learn how to find and focus on your best features and how to combat negative thoughts about your appearance. Carmindy demonstrates easy makeup techniques for eyes, brows, lashes, lips, cheeks, and skin, and how to adapt looks to different weather conditions and 'beauty moods."

First let me say that this book is simply gorgeous! The photography and layout of the book is superb and very eyecatching. The thick, glossy pages make it almost sinful to browse and read through this book. I was expecting the usual makeup/beauty book, but that's not what I got. This book is as much, if not more, about becoming a beautiful you from the inside out. Carmindy wants every women to realize that she is unique and is beautiful and to use those attributes to present your best you to the world. Definitely a great book!

I got this book from Hachette Book Group, USA...Thanks!

Time again for a few stops around the blogosphere to see what others are reading. Please stop in and check them all out and get signed up signed up.

This week over on Beth Fish Reads she has a review of a thriller by Michael Connelly entitled The Lincoln Lawyer.

Trish at Hey Lady Whatcha’Readin? has a review of The Help and loved the book so much she's giving a copy way too!

Amy of My Friend Amy gives us some tips on how to spot Christian fiction and lists some great publishers and writers to look for.

Bermuda Onion has started a new meme and invites everyone to join in. Wondrous Words Wednesday invites you to share new words you discover in your reading and helps us all increase our vocabulary.

Wendi's Book Corner has a review of The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp. This is a 21-day project, so Wendi is hoping you'll stop by and give her some feedback on how she's doing.

Write For a Reader does her first phone interview with Barbara Worton, the author of “Too Tall Alice”

And don't forget to leave a comment after my review of The Terror by Dan Simmons to be entered to win one of five copies that I'm giving away courtesy of Hachette BookGroup.

I wanted to post a few love poems that I was sent...it seemed appropriate for the day. ;)

A Love Poem of Hope
Posted: 14 Feb 2009 07:04 AM PST
(Author: John Piper)
A Love Poem of Hope in Seven Languages
for my wife Noël
Valentines Day, 2009

My love, come listen as I seek
With seven tongues, and hope, on your
Sweet soul to let our Sovereign speak:
Je suis avec vous tous les jours.

He bids us come and learn to rest
Beneath his feather burden. Come feel,
He says, how light, how sweet, how blessed,
Porque me yugo es facil.

And if we fear what yet will be,
He tells us what we yet will see:
'al tiyra' kiy ‘imkah aniy
temaktiykah biymiyn tsadkiy.

If darkness lingers on, and thus
Delays the precious light of dawn,
Fear not, because we know for us
God works panta eis agathon.

And if barbarians invade
The soul, and take our borderlands,
Together we say undismayed:
E tenebris lux Christi stands.

Gott hat durch Leiden uns gelerht,
Dass wir kein Schmerz vergeuden;
Ob Abend lang das Weinen währt,
Doch kommt des Morgens Freude.

More Valentine Love Letters
a commentary by John Piper

My favorite love letter (besides the ones I write for Noël and she for me) is from the 19-year-old Jonathan Edwards to the girl he was falling in love with in the summer of 1723. On the front page of his Greek grammar he wrote the only kind of love song his heart was capable of. Take a deep breath.

They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is beloved of that great Being who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him—that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that he loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from him always. There she is to dwell with him, and to be ravished with his love and delight forever…. She has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in her affections; is most just and conscientious in all her conduct; and you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind; especially after this great God has manifested himself to her mind…. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her.

Sarah was thirteen years old at the time! Four years later they were married. In the next 23 years they had eleven children, eight daughters and three sons.

In case you can’t relate to Edwards’ Valentine, Martyn Lloyd-Jones is closer to earth. On September 25, 1939 when he was forty, the London pastor and latter-day Puritan wrote:

My dear Bethan,
Thank you for your letter of this morning, though I am very angry that you should have been up till 11:30 PM writing it! I see that you are quite incorrigible! The idea that I shall become used to being without you is really funny. I could speak for a long time on the subject. As I have told you many, many times, the passing of the years does nothing but deepen and intensify my love for you. When I think of those days in London in 1925 and ’26, when I thought that no greater love was possible, I could laugh.

But honestly, during this last year I had come to believe that it was not possible for a man to love his wife more than I loved you. And yet I see that there is no reason to live, and that it is still true that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I am quite certain that there is no lover, anywhere, writing to his girl who is quite as mad about her as I am. Indeed I pity those lovers who are not married. Well, I had better put a curb on things or I shall spend the night writing to you . . . .

Ever yours,—Martyn

If you like these glimpses into the heart of Christian lovers I recommend Michael A. G. Haykin, with Victoria J. Haykin, The Christian Lover: The Sweetness of Love and Marriage in the Letters of Believers.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday: The Love of God

• I genuinely enjoy his writing.
• My son intro'd me to his books a few years ago...and Matt and I are still reading him.
• My son Matt is doing an internship at Pipers church (Bethlehem Baptist) in Minneapolis, MN
• Everything I hear about this man impresses me...Did you know his book royalties go back into the ministry almost 100%?

For those of you who are single and hoping to connect with someone check out my latest review - "Love in 90 Days" by Diana Kirschner. It's full of some excellent ideas to get out there and meet the right person for you.

If you're in a relationship, take the time to do more than simply hand over a card that you've bought and signed. Do something out of the ordinary...make them feel special.
And for everyone, whether you're in a relationship or single....make sure that you show, and also tell your loved ones that you do treasure them, that they are the most important things in your life. Whether it's your spouse, sibling, parent or your child - just let them know you care.

I've just drawn the winners for the "Run For Your Life" giveaway...and they are....


drumroll please.....


are ya ready???????


wanting to shoot me yet????:)

• Estella
• RhapsodyInBooks
• Nhertel85

The winners have been emailed and have 72 hours to send me their mailing addresses...if for some reason they don't respond I'll draw an alternate prize winner.

Congrats to the winners!

By Diana Kirschnew, PhD

By Lori Foster

By Dan Simmons

Mass Market Paperback: 992 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; Reprint edition (January 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316008079
ISBN-13: 978-0316008075

"The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice.But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape.A haunting, gripping story based on actual historical events, The Terror is a novel that will chill you to your core "

This book is simply stupendous. It wasn't til after I started this book that I realized that it was based on a true story. There was an exploratory expedition headed up by Sir John Franklin to find the Northwest Passage and the two ships were named "The Erebus" and "The Terror" and they did disappear never to be seen from again. After that, Simmons weaves his incredible tale of horror, creepiness and suspense. I honestly cannot read his books at night because I get scared silly! This book brings to life the horrors of men at sea, what they endured in that brutal cold while searching in vain for the Northwest Passage. The story combines sci-fi, thriller and historical fiction all in one incredible story. This is that one book everyone should read and experience....well during the daylight hours anyway!

"Dan's Arctic adventure-dark fantasy novel The Terror was on a variety of Top 10 lists for 2007, including Entertainment Weekly's Top 10 Books of 2007, USA Today's Top 10 Books, Stephen King's "Top 10 from My Reading in 2007" list also quoted in Entertainment Weekly, and was # 1 on Amazon.com's "2007 Top 10 SF and Horror Novels" list.The Terror was also in the Top 12 of all books rated by Book Sense, the journal of independent bookstores." From http://www.dansimmons.com/

Now for the fun stuff!

I'm lucky enough to have 5 copies of this thriller to pass on to my lucky blog readers thanks to Hachette Book Group, USA.!!!

To get past all the legal stuff - You must be 18 to enter, and you must be a resident of the US or Canada and no P.O. boxes allowed. Contest runs from February 12, 2009 until Midnight February 27, 2009.

Leave me a separate comment for each entry and make sure to leave me an email addy so I can contact you if you win!

1 entry for commenting - Tell me one thing that scares you! Think of this as your own private counseling session ;)
1 entry for following me
1 entry for following me on twitter
2 entries if you post about this contest (give me a link in the comment)

I can't wait to see what frightens all of you!

By D.E. Boone

Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Global Force Media LLC; 1st edition (February 14, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0979745349
ISBN-13: 978-0979745348

This book is too much fun!! This is a definite guilty pleasure that you all need. This small, short book is a quick read, but one that I'm sure you'll go back to again and again. It's an entire relationship that you can see and read about in 10 minutes tops. The book features the black and white photography of Marc Burgess, and showcases the gorgeous legs of model Natsuko Koizumi. Believe me, these legs can tell a story and that story is full of attitude and sass! This is the perfect great book for your coffee table or your nightstand. Give it to your best girlfriend that's been dumped or is doing the dumping! Give it to the man in your life when you're feeling flirty and a little naughty! You'll find a million reasons to pick this book up...not the least of which is for yourself!

Check out this trailer for the book!



Check out the book website at Leg Talk

By Jennifer Crusie

Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: HQN Books; Reprint edition (December 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373773234
ISBN-13: 978-0373773237

"Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley—and his hideous green recliner. Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks. Turns out Officer Zack Warren wants to arrest the very same Bradley for embezzlement and figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target. Good thing there's a cop around. Because someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car. Zack insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy's house.
Now there's danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom—and bedroom. Or maybe Zack is just what Lucy needs.… "

This is the usual fun romp by Crusie. She never disappoints her readers who look to her for witty, smart, fun dialogue mixed in with a crazy cast of characters. I had so much fun with this book. Lucy is just a normal woman, not a gorgeous model type, which is one of the things I love about Jennifer Crusie. Her characters are normal people and you feel like they are your best friend next door. I found myself laughing out loud while I read this book, it was such a delight and such an escape from real life.

Authors website: http://www.jennycrusie.com/

Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? participated in a meme earlier this week that looked like a lot of fun – so I joined in and now it’s my turn. Here’s the way it works – if you thinks this looks like fun just leave me a comment about my choices. I’ll randomly assign everyone a letter and then it’s their turn to post it.

1. God. I would be nothing without my love for Our Father. He directs my life, my faith in him is what carries me through the tough times. I fully bask in the glory of HIS GRACE.

2. I would be nothing without the GRACE of GOD.

3. Grandparents. My grandparents taught me about love, family, history and hard work. They also taught me that the ability to find joy in the midst of sorrow and pain was one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

4. Great Friends. Great friends are the ones that stick around even when you’re being a jerk; that are there through the good and the bad times. This is my best friend Tracy…we met in 1st grade….40 years ago! EEEK!

5. My ex-husband Grant – While I don’t LOVE Grant. I will always love him for being the father of my two boys. As bad as my marriage was, I wouldn’t erase those years because of them. They are what has given my life meaning and purpose for the last 25 years.

(L)Matt(oldest and fiancee’ Lauren and (R)Jon(youngest) and wife Rachel

6. Girls - and not in a Katy Perry kind of way :) I am loving having girls in the family after having only boys! As much as I love my sons, boy are DIL’s fun to have ;)

8. Gifts – This goes without saying….what girl doesn’t like gifts?? Big or small they are all great!

9. Geriatrics. OK this might be stretching it a bit. After living in a nursing home for the last year and a half, I’ve developed such an appreciation for the elderly. The wealth of stories and history that each of them brings to the table is amazing. The are surely a monument to what is great about our country…what our country is built upon. And what wonderful stories I can tell….:)

10. Gloomy, rainy afternoons that are perfect to curl up on the couch and read.

Hi everyone! It's time for a weekly round up of the places I've been in blogland this past week.

I was highly entertained when I stopped by Hey Lady Whatcha Readin? and read her reviews on some childrens books. Entitled "Would You Let Your Kids Read These Books?" . I'd bet all of these books would have you and the little ones you read for in giggles. She also did a great meme this week - make sure you stop by and comment to join in the fun!

This week also saw Write For A Reader reviewing a children's book about an animal I've never heard of...make sure you check it out because it's awfully cute.

Wendi at Wendi's Book Corner has started a new meme she wants everyone to know about. It's called Tuesday Thingers. Great idea and a great start! It's open for anyone to join in! She also posted a review of what looks to be a great childrens Christmas book called Cole Family Christmas. It's never too early for ideas for the kids on your list for next Christmas.

Don't forget to stop at BermudaOnion's site for a great review of Little Pink House and make sure you comment because she's giving away a copy of it too!

Amy of My Friend Amy reviewed a really interesting sounding book called Trail of Breadcrumbs: Hunger, Love and the Search for Home by Kim Sunee. This book sounds like something very unique and I'm putting it on my list of must reads. Amy also posted a very thoughtful and insightful Sunday Salon posting about the importance of reading to children. It's a must read for parents and anyone who spends time with young kids.

By Joyce Meyer (author) and Sandra McCollum (reader)

Hmmmm this is one very different way to use Cheetos.....

Thanks to Demi Moore via twitter for this link...

Now for the people that I'm tagging!

• Lexie at http://lastexilewords.blogspot.com/
• Sheri at http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
• http://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/about/
• Debbie at http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com/
• Bella at http://bfoxxreads.blogspot.com/

by Michael Shilling
Hachette Book Group (January 9, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316031925
ISBN-13: 978-0316031929
400 pages


This is the story of the Blood Orphans The Blood Orphans are a rock band in serious decline. At one time they had it all and were on the road to rock and roll stardom. Then they had one horrible review and everything went south from there.
The book highlights their very last day on their last tour as they are getting ready to perform at a small venue in Amsterdam. We get introduced to Christian turned Buddhist lead singer Shane who can't stop preaching from the stage, drummer Darlo the son of a porn king millionaire fighting his sex addict demons, Bobby, the bass player who's eczema stricken hands have earned him the nickname Mummy, Adam the quiet , talented lead guitar player, and of course Joey, their coked out manager.

Their last day is both funny and tragic. We see the death of their dreams and what it has meant to each of them. We get a look into their raunchy, pathetic life on the road. This book is as much about the actual band itself as it was a commentary on the transitory and destructive nature fame.

Over all this book was a good read. It was such an interesting look into a dream so many people have had, and what happens when you let fame get the better of you. I loved watching them evolve over the course of the book. On the other hand the book is very graphic and raunchy and the language is coarse. I don't think any of it was outside the realm of what you could expect in a rock "memoir". I enjoyed this book immensely.

I received this book from Hachette Books...Thanks!

Click here for reading group guide to this book.

Blood Orphans website here.

Purchase your copy here

Drumroll please!

And now for the inaugural book giveaway here on Marta's Meanderings! Courtesy of Miriam at Hachette books I have 3 copies of Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge to give away.

Here's what you have to do!

• You get one entry for simply posting a comment.
• You get another entry for following this blog.
• You get another entry for following me on twitter.
• You get another entry if you stumble me.
• Post this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link to it.

That makes a total of 5 possible times you can be entered to win one of these books. Make sure you leave me an email address so I can get in touch with you. This contest will run from February 3-13. I'll post the winners on February 14th. Must be from U.S. or Canada.

Check out my review of Run For Your Life below!

By James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Mailbox Monday is hosted by The Printed Page.
Last week I got a ton of books.
Monday: I received Boneman's Daughters
Tuesday: I received Drood, Run For Your Life
Wednesday: I received A Quiet Flame
Thursday: I received I Smile Back and Life Against All Odds
Friday I got God is My Coach, 8 Steps to Create The Life You Want, and The Art of Compassion from Hachette Books. I also received Summer World, which I'd been told they were out of. I was expecting that in Ebook form.
Saturday I received Fatal February and Mission Accomplished: Stop The Clock
Like I said...I got an incredible amount of books in the mail!